Bobbin and yarn handling apparatus and method



Sept. 25, 1962 0. DE FORE ET AL 3,055,603 A BOBBIN AND YARN HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l (D n m 1 v I 1' 1n um: I ml QC '7 A. I II. I. I

I I I -i f 4 INVENTORS ERNEST O. DEFORE HENRY D. OTT FURMAN S. COX EDWARD J. ATKINSON BY PAUL J.GARRISON,JR

AT iORNEY L Septl 25, 1962 E. 0. DE FORE ET AL BOBBIN AND YARN HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHO 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1959 INVENTORS 8T ERNESTO. DEFORE HENRY D. OTT

EDWARD J.ATK|NSON FURMAN S. COX

Bi PAUL$GARRISON,JR. E ATTORNEY t p 1962 E. 0. DE FORE ETAL 3,055,603

BOBBIN AND YARN-HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS EFO HENRY D.0TT COX EDWARD J.ATK|NSON B PAUL \LGARRISOPLJB Z W W TTORNEY Sept. 25, 1962 E. 0. DE FORE ETAL BOBBIN AND YARN HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 16, 1959 I29 149% i I27 @125 gm? 7| RD J'. ATKINSON J. GARRISON,JR

m OT mm E MD vl ATT RNEY United States Patent Office 3,055,603 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,603 BOBBIN AND YARN HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Ernest 0. De Fore, Furman S. Cox, Henr D. Ott, Ed-

ward J. Atkinson, and Paul J. Garrison, J12, Clemson, S.C., assignors to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, 8.0., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 860,018 14 Claims. (Cl. 242-355) This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for winding bobbins, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for filling and refilling flanged bobbins which do not have a completely full package wound thereon.

In the textile art of winding bobbins for creeling operations and in the employment of these bobbins in creeling, it frequently occurs that the yarn end will break, either before the completion of a full package during the winding or twisting-winding operation or during the withdrawal of the yarn during the creeling operation, leaving a relatively large amount of yarn on the bobbin, the amount being sufficiently great in most cases to justify further use of this yarn from an economical standpoint. Also, in the withdrawal of yarn in the creeling operation it is a frequent occurrence for a number of the bobbins to have a relatively small amount of yarn (eg. of the order of two or three layers of yarn, more or less) remaining on the bobbin at the completion of the creelingin operation, due for instance to the lack of uniformity in the original length of yarn on the various bobbins in the creel. It has been the previous practice to unwind the yarn from these nearly empty bobbins and to wind such yarn onto the nearly full breakout bobbins in a substantially manual operation involving tying the yarn ends together and then winding the yarn onto the nearly full bobbins. It is highly desirable to provide an efficient and economical method and apparatus for backwinding the yarn from these nearly empty bobbins onto the nearly full bobbins or onto other bobbins as may be desired.

It is accordingly a major object and feature of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for efiiciently and economically backwinding the yarn from partially full bobbins onto other bobbins. and preferably bobbins which are more nearly full than the bobbins from which the yarn is being backwound.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for facilitating the securing together of the yarn ends of two bobbins for the purpose of backwinding the yarn "from one bobbin onto another.

Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment according to the invention, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE .1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment constructed according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, with parts of the apparatus broken away for clarity.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of the braking and indexing arrangement of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1, as viewed from the rear side.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentarysection view of the brake and index arrangement taken in line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating the operation of the slack takeup arrangement.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the uniting of the yarn ends of a takeup bobbin and a supply bobbin.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electric control according to the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of a loading station takeup spindle braking arrangement in the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings a turntable 11 having a plurality of takeup spindles :13 and supply spindles 15 is mounted for selective rotational movement about a vertical axis. The turntable in the illustrated embodiment includes two spaced :apart circular plates 17, 19 and is suitably secured on a vertical freely rotatable shaft 25 in turn suitably supported in a bearing arrangement 27 mounted on a support frame 29. Spacers 31 may be employed for securing the two plates 17 and (19 together as with screws 33.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the takeup and supply spindles 13, 15 are arranged in alternate staggered relation, with the takeup spindles 13 being disposed further from the axis of the turntable than the supply spindles 15. Each of the takeup spindles in this embodiment may be of conventional construction including a bolster support 35 suitably mounted as in a conventional manner on the lower one .1 9 of the two circular plates and a whorl 37 adapted to be rotatably driven as by a drive belt or tape 39 to thereby impart rotation to the spindle; which in turn imparts rotation to the takeup bobbin 43 as through a conventional key and socket connection 45 for backwinding of the yarn off the supply bobbin and onto the takeup bobbin. Each spindle passes through a suitable opening in the top circular plate 17 and has its blade end extending above the upper plate 17 for support of a bobbin or spool thereon.

The supply spindles 15 are preferably spindles of similar type to those employed as takeup spindles, although it will be apparent that various other constructions for the supply spindles may be provided if desired. The supply spindles 15 are suitably braked, preferably by an adjustable brake arrangement 49. A preferred brake arrangement for the supply spindles is shown in FIGURE 2 wherein each supply spindle has a brake belt 51 suitably anchored as by an anchor pin 52 secured on the lower circular plate 19 and is selectively tensioned to engage the whorl 37 of the respective supply spindles 15 with a selected braking pressure, which is adjustably maintained through means of a tension spring 53 and an adjustment screw and nut connection 55, The adjustment screw and nut connection 55 is adjustably connected to a substantially rigid center ring 57 mounted in fixed relation to the lower circular support plate 19. While this brake arrangement is simple and is preferred, it will be apparent that other suitable brake arrangements may be employed as desired.

In the preferred embodiment both the takeup spindles 13 and the supporting turntable 11 are adapted to be rotatably driven through the medium of a drive tape or belt 39 which engages each of the takeup spindle whorls 37 with the exception of the takeup spindle 13a which is at any one time held at the loading station 63, this tape or drive belt .39 being driven at a suitable velocity as by a drive pulley 65 in turn driven through a suitable shaft 67 and step-down belt and pulley connection 69 from a drive motor 71 mounted on the support frame 29. The drive motor 71 preferably continues to run during the entire operation of the apparatus, thus providing continuous rotatable driving action to each of the takeup spindles 13 except that takeup spindles 1311 which is disposed for the movement at the loading station. At the loading station the drive belt 39 is guided outwardly away from the takeup spindle position at the loading station by and to engage with the drive pulley 65 which may be disposed beneath an arcuate protective apron or guard plate 73 suitably mounted at the loading station 63., Thus the drivev tape or belt 39 is completely disengaged from each successive takeup spindle which momentarily resides at the loading station '63, while it is in driving connection with each of the other takeup spindles and through engagement with their spindle whorls 37 is also in driving rela tion to the turntable 11, exerting a rotation-imparting torque on the turntable about its axis tending to rotate the turntable assembly about its vertical axis in the same direction of movement as the belt 39 and the individual takeup spindles 13. In the instant illustrated embodiment the belt 39 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by the drive motor 71, and in turn imparts a counterclockwise rotational movement (as viewed from above) to the takeup spindles 13 about their own individual axes, as well as imparting a counterclockwise torque to the turntable 11 tending to rotate the turntable about its own central axis in a counterclockwise direction.

The turntable 11 does not continuously rotate, however, but is selectively braked against rotation and released for rotation through the medium of a selectively actuated brake shoe and indexing pin arrangement generally indicated at 75. The brake shoe and indexing pin arrangement 75 includes an arcuate brake member 77 having a brake shoe 79 of suitable material for selective engagement with and disengagement from the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 81 of the lower circular support plate, which peripheral surface 81 may be of any suitable wearresistant material, such as steel, etc. The brake an index pin 75 is preferably adapted for complete disengagement from the turn table 11 in order to provide for selective incremental rotation of the turntable, while also being adapted to be fully engaged with the turntable for holding the turntable against rotation at the conclusion of each incremental turntable movement. To this end the arcuate brake member 77, 79 is mounted on a vertical pivot shaft 83 suitably supported in spaced apart bearings 85 mounted on the support frame 29. An actuating lever arm 87 is rigidly secured to the pivot shaft 83 between the two support bearings 85 and is normally resiliently biased in a direction to maintain the brake shoe 79 in engagement with the periphery 81 of the lower turntable plate as by a tension spring 89 suitably connected between the outer end of the actuating lever arm 87 and the support frame 29. The brake-actuating lever arm 87 is adapted to be moved clockwise against the action of the spring 89 as through the medium of a heavy duty solenoid 91 having its movable armature 91a connected to the lever arm 87 through a suitable linkage such as a bell crank arm 93 pivotally mounted at 95 and a secondary connecting link 97. Energization of the solenoid coil pulls the armature 91a downwardly, thereby rocking the bell crank 93 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 3) about its pivot axis 95 to move the secondary link 97 outwardly,

thus moving the actuating lever arm 87 and brake member 77, 79 clockwise against the action of the tension spring 89, and thereby releasing the brake 77, 79 (as well as the indexing pin 99, next described) from the turntable 11, permitting the turntable to rotate under the influence of the torque exerted thereon by the peripheral drive belt 39.

It is most desirable that the turntable 11 be moved in incremental amounts suflicient to bring each succeeding takeup spindle and its respective supply spindle to the loading station 63, with the turntable 11 being thereupon stopped by the braking device in a precise position so that this particular takeup spindle 13a will no longer be notatably driven. To this end the brake not only includes an arcuate brake shoe 79 for engagement with the cylindrical peripheral surface of the lower turntable plate, but also has disposed at its outer end a spring biased indexing pin 99 which is adapted to resiliently engage with the cylindrical outer surface 81 of the lower turntable plate 19 when the arcuate brake member 77 79 is moved to the left under the biasing influence of the spring 89, and is further adapted to engage the index holes 187 formed on the peripheral surface 81 of this lower turntable plate. The indexing pin 99 is mounted for resilient movement through an aperture 101 formed in the arcuate brake elements 77, 79, and is resiliently biased toward and through the aperture 101 by a compression spring 103 disposed in a cup-shaped housing 185 which may be suitably secured as by welding to the outer surface of the arcuate brake element 77. The index holes 107 are spaced apart by the same angular distance as the individual takeup spindles 13 and are suitably disposed in relation to the takeup spindles and the position of the index pin 99 so as to position each successive takeup spindle in disconnected relation from the drive belt while such takeup spindle 13a is disposed at the loading station 63. In the illustrated embodiment, selected rotation of the turntable 11 is controlled by the operator through the medium of a suitably normally open brake-releasing switch 109 disposed adjacent the operators work position, which is adjacent the loading station 63 and is generally indicated at 111. The brake-releasing switch 189 may be a push button switch normally spring biased open and connected in controlling relation to the brake actuating solenoid 91. The operator momentarily closes this brake releasing switch 189 which completes an energizing circuit to the coil of the brake actuating solenoid 91 and also closes a holding circuit including a niormally deenergized holding relay 113 and its normally open contacts 115 to hold the solenoid 91 in energized relation. Energization of the solenoid 91 effects movement of the arcuate member '77 clockwise sufficiently far to release both the brake shoe '79 and the indexing pin 99 from the turntable 11 and to permit movement of the turntable in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of the drive belt 39. The turntable 11 continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction until such time as th solenoid energization holding circuit 113, 115, 117 is interrupted. Interruption of this holding circuit is effected through the medium of a normally closed stop switch 117, which may suitably be a microswitch disposed in fixed relation adjacent the truntable 11 for engagement by a successive plurality of suitably spaced apart switch actuating members disposed or movable in synchronism with the turntable. The switch actuating members 119 are spaced apart on the turntable by an angular distance equal to the angular distance between adjacent takeup spindles in order to provide for deactuation of the solenoid and reactuation of the brake and indexing pin just prior to the advance of each succeeding takeup spindle into the desired position at the loading station. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment the lower bolster end 119 of each the takeup spindles 13 extending beneath the lower circular support plate 19 of the turntable 11 serve as the switch actuating members for engaging and causing the opening of the normally closed stop switch 117 to thereby break the holding circuit, thus deenergizing the solenoid 91 and permitting the spring biased brake shoe 79 and index pin 101 to reengage the turntable 11 in braking relation. It will be apparent that other suitable switch actuating devices might be employed on the turntable 11, or otherwise, for releasing the brake shoe and indexing pin, and that the particular position of the switch 117 with respect to the turntable 11 will be dependent upon the particular location of such switch actuating elements.

It is desirable that each takeup bobbin 43a (see FIG- URE 8) be held (preferably lightly held) against rotation during the time that it is disposed at the loading station 63. To this end, a brake 118 is disposed adjacent the loading station 63 for engagement with the whorl of each succeeding takeup spindle 13a as it is brought to and disposed at the loading station, as shown schematically in FIGURE 8. In the illustrated embodiment the loading station takeup spindle brake 118 takes the form of a rigid brake arm 118a suitably secured to or formed on a pivot shaft 1181) in turn mounted for angular movement about a vertical axis in a pair of spaced apart support bearings 120 suitably secured to the support frame 29. Suitably secured to the outer end of the brake arm 118a is a whorl-engaging resilient brake element 118c which preferably takes the form of a strip of leather in order to provide the desired light braking act-ion on the spindle whorl 3 7. The leather or other braking element 1180 may be suitably secured to the arm 113a as by a nut and bolt or other suitable connection 118d in order to provide for ease of replacement as may be necessary. The arm and brake element are resiliently biased toward engagement with the whorl loading station of the takeup spindle as through the medium of a tension spring 122 suitably anchored to a portion of the frame 29 and connecting with an arm 118f secured to or formed integral with the pivot shaft 1181). In order to facilely provide for adjusting the braking position of the brake element 118a and preventing excess braking action on the whorl during the movement of any instant loading station takeup spindle 13a away from the loading station position an adjustable stop 124, for example in the form of an adjustment screw and threaded supporting element, is preferably disposed adjacent the arm 118] for engagement thereby. Without this limiting action on the movement of the brake element 1180 there may sometimes be a tendency for the brake to cause reverse rotation of the takeup spindle 13a as the turntable 11 is moved to move the takeup spindle away from the loading station 63, thus tending to unwind the yarn from the takeup spindle 13a during this initial portion of the incremental turntable movement. By providing the stop 124 the desired braking action may be effected without causing undue frictional action on the whorl as the takeup spindle is removed from the loading station. v

It is also desirable that the yarn tails extending from the takeup bobbins 43 be held in substantially close relation to the takeup bobbins 43 after the exhaustion of the yarn from their respective supply bobbins in the course of. movement of the takeup and supply bobbins in their incremental movement on the turntable 11 from the loading station 63 and back to the loading station. To this end, a soft brush 121 is disposed in vertical relation along the side of each takeup spindle position and with the brush fibers adapted to engage the yarn package on each takeup bobbin 43. Each of these brushes 121 is preferably disposed at a slight angle to the periphery of the yarn package so as to provide for a light sweeping action of the bristles on the yarn package as the bobbin is rotated by the drive belt. This light resilient action of the brushes on the yarn packages does not materially interfere with the takeup and traverse of the yarn onto the takeup bobbins, but is of value in retaining the yarn in the laid position thereon, particularly after the exhaustion of yarn from a supply bobbin.

As mentioned above, the energizing circuit for the brake release solenoid is broken by contact of the lower end of each succeeding spindle bolster with the movable sensing finger 117a of the brake stop switch 117 at a point somewhat prior to the movement of the next succeeding indexing hole 107 into alignment with the indexing pin 99. In this manner the brake shoe 79 is thus moved into arcuate engagement with the circular outer rim 81 of the lower support plate, with the indexing pin 99 also riding on and pressing against this outer peripheral surface under the influence of its compression spring 103. By properly choosing the strength of the tension spring 89, the material of the brake shoe 79, and the actuating point for actuating the brake into engagement with the circular plate periphery 81, it will be apparent that the turntable velocity may be reduced to a comparatively low rate by the time each succeeding indexing hole 107 reaches the position of alignment with the indexing pin 99, whereupon the pin 99 will be spring-pressed into the indexing hole under the influence of its compressed biasing spring 103, thus stopping the turntable with a takeup spindle 13a and its supply spindle precisely at the loading station 63. Although the foregoing described mode of operation is preferred wherein the brake shoe 79 comes into operation somewhat prior to alignment of the indexing hole 107 with the indexing pin 99 in order to provide some measure of gentle braking in lieu of the abrupt stop which would occur by employment of the indexing pin 99 alone, it may in some instances be desirable to employ a braking action through the use of only an indexing pin 99, which in such cases may serve as a friction brake and as a positive acting brake, or as a positive acting brake only.

Disposed adjacent the loading station 63 is a table 123 having a sewing machine 125 of suitable conventional construction mounted thereon. Also mounted on this sewing table 123 may be the main start-stop switch 127 for the drive motor 71 which drives the whorl-engaging belt 39. In the normal operation of this apparatus, the operator stands in front of the sewing machine 125 and adjacent the loading station 63. In order to permit the operator to control the starting and stopping of the sewing machine 125 while leaving his hands free for holding the yarn ends, the sewing machine may be provided with a normally open start-stop switch 129 having a spring biased actuating lever 131 mounted on the sewing table and adapted to be engaged by the operators hip. The sewing machine is preferably of the oscillating or swinging needle type and is provided with a foot of suitable construction for sewing together two adjacent parallel lengths of yarn, as illustrated schematically in FIGURE 6.

As each succeeding takeup spindle and its respective supply spindle is brought to the loading station 63a this particular takeup spindle 13a moves out of connection with the drive belt 39 as described above and comes to a halt under the braking influence of the brake 118. The operator takes the supply bobbin which has by this time become exhausted and places it in a suitable conveniently disposed exhausted bobbin receptacle such as a box (not shown) for subequent winding of yarn thereonto as on a conventional bobbin winding apparatus (not shown). The operator then takes a new partially full supply bobbin 44 with a small or large amount of yarn remaining thereon, the amount varying as a rule with each individual bobbin, and places such bobbin 44 onto the empty supply spindle with its key-engaging socket end engaging with the key on the spindle. The operator then takes the free end of the yarn from the supply bobbin 44a and the free end of yarn from the takeup bobbin 43a and brings these two ends over to the sewing machine 125, with one end extending in one direction and the other end extending in the other direction in side by side relation. The operator then sews these two yarn ends together with the sewing machine in parallel facing relation as shown substantially in FIGURE 6. This operation normally leaves a substantial amount of yarn slack extending between the takeup bobbin 43a and associated supply bobbin 4411. Subsequent takeup of this slack by the takeup bobbin 43a after movement into engagement by the drive belt 39 would be difficult without assistance from the operator in holding the loose ends of yarn until the slack were completely taken up. This would materially interfere with the operators subsequent handling of the next takeup and empty bobbin spindles as they are progressed to the loading station, and accordingly a slack takeup arrangement is provided for winding of this slack onto a supply bobbin prior to release of the turntable 11 and movement of the takeup and supply spindles to the active position beyond the loading station.

The slack takeup arrangement in the preferred embodiment takes the form of a motor driven friction disk or wheel 133 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on the drive shaft 135 of a drive motor 137 supported on an angularly movable arm 139' which may be pivotally mounted for angular movement about a vertical axis on a support post 141 extending up beside the turntable 11 and supported on the frame 29. The pivoted arm 139 is of such a length as to permit the friction disk or wheel 133 to engage with the annular periphery of the upper flange of the supply bobbin 44 disposed at the loading station. This pivoted arm 13) is spring biased as through the medium of a tension spring 142 connected between the arm 139 and a guide arm 143 disposed adjacent thereto in order to hold the friction Wheel or disk 133 out of engagement with the supply bobbin 44 at the loading station. Upon completion of the sewing together of the two ends of yarn from the supply bobbin and the takeup bobbin the operator manually pulls the arm toward him as by pulling on a handle 145 of the arm or by merely pulling on the arm 139 itself to thereby bring the friction wheel 133 into engagement with the upper flange of the supply bobbin at the loading station (see FIGURE It is preferable that the drive motor 137 for the friction wheel 133 be normally deenergized when in the retracted position as is shown in FIGURE 1, and as shown in full lines in FIGURE 5, and that such drive motor be automatically energized when the friction wheel is moved to engage the bobbin flange (see broken line position of FIGURE 5). To this end the pivoted arm is provided with a cam lug 147 which is adapted to engage with and actuate a suitable switch 149, such as a microswitch, which may be fixedly disposed on the fixed support post 141 for the pivoted arm 139. This switch 149 is normally open and is connected in series relation in the power circuit to the drive motor 137 for the friction wheel 133. Movement of the pivoted arm for engagement of the friction wheel with the supply bobbin causes the cam lug 147 to engage the feeler arm of the microswitch 149 and to thereby close the microswitch and start the drive motor 137. The friction Wheel drive motor 137 is adapted to be rotated in a direction (clockwise in the illustrative embodiment) whereby the friction wheel drives the supply bobbin in an opposite direction to the normal direction of withdrawal therefrom when such yarn is being wound onto the takeup bobbin. Thus, movement of the pivot arm to bring the flange-engaging friction drive wheel 133 into engagement with the flange of the supply bobbin 44 at the loading station 63 causes this bobbin rotating wheel 133 to be driven to thereby drive the supply bobbin and take up the slack between the takeup bobbin 43a and its new supply bobbin 44. The operator may then press the brake release switch 109, releasing the turntable 11 which then rotates under the influence of the torque exerted thereon by the drive belt 39 to bring the next succeeding takeup spindle and supply spindle to the loading station 63 for servicing by the operator. The takeup spindle which has just been serviced by the operator will then be carried into engagement with the drive belt 39 by this incremental rotation of the turntable and will proceed to backwind the yarn from the supply bobbin 44 onto the takeup bobbin 43.

This invention is particularly adapted for employment with bobbin packages having a straight end to end traverse, although other types of package builds may be utilized with this invention to advantage. It will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment does not require a traverse mechanism for traversing the yarn along the length of the takeup bobbin in order to provide a smoothly laid package thereon, since both the takeup bobbin 43 and the supply bobbin 44 are closely adjacent to one another and have their axes parallel, and with their respective flanges in substantially horizontal alignment with one another, and further in view of the fact that there is maintained a sufficient tension between the positively driven takeup bobbin 43 and the braked supply bobbin 44 to insure that the yarn proceeding from a supply bobbin flows in a substantially straight line to its takeup bobbin. The ultimate effect of this arrangement is to provide a traversing action of the yarn on the takeup bobbin 43 as a direct function of the traverse position of the yarn as it is backwound from the supply bobbin 44.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that although the invention has one feature thereof the absence of any requirement for a traverse mechanism for winding the yarn in a desirable lay onto the takeup bobbin there may be some instances where it may be desirable to employ a traverse mechanism, and it is to be understood that the invention may be modified in this respect if such is deemed desirable and if one does not desire the simplicity of operation that results from the preferred embodiment wherein no traverse mechanism is provided.

In the course of operating the apparatus according to this invention, it is desirable that the operator have all of the necessary materials as close at hand as possible, including a source of supply bobbins, a source of takeup bobbins and a depository for receiving the completed takeup bobbins after they have been sufficiently filled to satisfy the requirements for a full takeup bobbin. To this end a takeup bobbin supply chute 151 is suitably disposed in downwardly inclined relation toward the operator on the opposite side of the sewing table 123 and supported in any suitable manner as on a supporting frame (not shown). Also suitably disposed to one lateral side of the takeup bobbin supply chute is a full bobbin receiving chute 155 which extends in a downwardly inclined direction away from the operator, this full bobbin receiving chute being likewise suitably mounted on a supporting frame (not shown). Both the takeup bobbin supply chute 151 and the full bobbin receiving chute 155 are preferably formed with bobbin guiding side walls, 159 and 161 respectively, and a bobbin retaining end wall 163 disposed at the lower end thereof. Both the bobbin supply chute 151 and the full bobbin receiving chute 155 may be serviced intermittently by an operator to place additional takeup bobbins in the takeup bobbin supply chute 151 and to unload the full bobbins from the full bobbin receiving chute 155. In the course of operating the apparatus there are normally many times more supply bobbins required to be replaced than there are takeup bobbins, each takeup bobbin being normally capable of holding the residue of yarn on several nearly exhausted supply bobbins, although it will be apparent that this relationship need not exist for satisfactory operation according to the invention. However, in the presently preferred operation of the illustrated apparatus according to the invention in one practical working environment this is the situation that prevails, and accordingly a comparatively large bobbin holding box (not shown) is movably disposed adjacent the right hand end of the sewing table with a substantially large number of more or less nearly exhausted supply bobbins disposed therein. While this arrangement has been satisfactory from a practical standpoint it will be apparent that in some installations it will be more satisfactory to provide also a supply bobbin chute for supplying the supply bobbins to the operator in a neat and orderly manner, for more advantageous handling by the operator. In such case it may be desirable, and is Within the scope of the invention, to provide a downwardly inclined or other suitable supply chute for supply bobbins either adjacent the full bobbin supply chute or in some other suitable relation to the operating position of the operator.

While a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that this embodiment is only by way of illustration and that the invention is capable of many modifications and improvements without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment shown and described herein but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A yarn winding arrangement comprising support means rotatable about a major axis, a plurality of winding positions disposed in spaced-apart relation on said support means, each of said winding positions comprising a takeup spindle and a supply spindle each rotatable about an individual axis on said support means, drive means for rotating said takeup spindles and said support means, means for disconnecting the drive to each succeeding takeup spindle as each succeeding spindle is transported by the support means to a bobbin changing station, and a slack-takeup drive means for sequential operative connection with each succeeding one of said supply spindles as it is disposed at said station, and means for actuating and de-actuating said slack takeup drive means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slack takeup drive means is movable into and out of engagement with a bobbin disposed on said supply spindle at said station, said means for actuating and de-actuating said slack takeup drive means comprising a control switch responsive to the movement of said slack takeup drive means toward and away from engagement with said supply bobbin flange to energize and de-energize respectively said slack takeup drive means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slack takeup drive means comprises a drive motor and a friction wheel operatively connected in driven relation to said motor, a support pivotally mounted at one side of said turntable and having said drive motor and friction wheel disposed adjacent the free end thereof, a cam and a cam actuated switch operatively associated with said arm and responsive to movement of said arm to open and close said switch, said switch being in operative controlling relation to said drive motor.

4. A yarn winding arrangement comprising support means rotatable about a major axis, a plurality of winding positions disposed in spaced-apart relation on said support means, each of said winding posit-ions comprising a takeup spindle and a supply spindle each rotatable about an individual axis on said support means, drive means for rotating said takeup spindles and said support means, means for disengaging said drive means from each succeeding takeup spindle as it is moved into a pre-selected zone by said support means and for re-engaging said drive means as said takeup spindle is moved by said support means beyond said zone, and a sewing machine disposed adjacent said pre-selected zone 'for joining the ends of yarn on a takeup and supply bobbin disposed on the corresponding spindles disposed at said pre-selected zone and during the disengagement of drive to the instant respective takeup spindle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said drive means comprises a continuous belt operatively engaging each of said takeup spindles with the exception of at least one takeup spindle in said zone adjacent said sewing machine.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a drive pulley operatively engaging said belt in said zone adjacent said sewing machine, said drive pulley being disposed outwardly from the position of said takeup spindle at said pro-selected position adjacent said sewing machine and thereby guiding said drive belt away from driving engagement with said takeup spindle at said preselected position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a switch operatively connected in controlling relation to said sewing machine, said switch being a normally open switch having a spring-biased actuating arm disposed at hip level for actuation by an operators hip without requiring hand operation to start and to stop said sewing machine.

8. A yarn winding arrangement comprising support means rotatable about a major axis, a plurality of winding positions disposed in spaced-apart relation on said support means, each of said winding positions comprising a takeup spindle and a supply spindle each rotatable about an individual aXis on said support means, drive means for rotating said takeup spindles and said support means, and braking means including a pivotally mounted brake shoe and indexing pin, said support means having 10 a plurality of indexing holes formed at spaced-apart positions in its periphery, and means for moving said brake shoe and indexing pin into engagement with said support means for braking by said brake shoe and braking and indexing by said pin through interengagement of said pin with any selected one of said indexing holes.

'9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherin said means for moving said brake and indexing pin into engagement comprises a switch operatively connected in controlling relation with said brake and indexing pin and being responsive to movement of said support means by a selected incremental angular amount to move said brake and indexing pin into engagement with said support means, and further switch means for disengaging said brake and indexing pin from said support means.

10, Method of backwinding yarn from a plurality of supply bobbins to a corresponding plurality of takeup bobbins comprising positioning the takeup bobbins and supply bobbins in paired side-by-side substantially colinear point-to-point longitudinal registry with one another interconnecting the yarn between a supply bobbin and a takeup bobbin while imparting no rotational force to said takeup bobbin, moving said takeup bobbin and its corresponding supply bobbin to a second position and applying rotational torque to said takeup bobbin at said second position while simultaneously moving a succeeding takeup bobbin and supply bobbin to the position previously occupied by said first mentioned takeup bobbin and supply bobbin, removing said succeeding supply bobbin and replacing said supply bobbin with a supply bobbin having yarn thereon, uniting the yarn on said replenished supply bobbin with said takeup bobbin, then moving said succeeding takeup bobbin and its corresponding replenished supply bobbin away from said position and applying a rotation-imparting torque to said suc ceeding takeup bobbin while also moving said first mentioned takeup bobbin and its corresponding supply bobbin to a further position away from its first mentioned position, transferring the yarn from each supply bobbin onto the corresponding takeup bobbin by a point-to-point selfguiding traverse of the windings onto the takeup bobbin through the direct transfer of the windings lying on the corresponding supply bobbin without intermediate external guidance forces being applied to the yarn during transfer, and continuing to advance succeeding takeup bobbins and supply bobbins to and away :from the position originally occupied by said first mentioned takeup bobbin and its corresponding supply bobbin while also replenishing supply bobbins at said position and uniting the yarn ends therefrom with their respective takeup bobbins; said takeup bobbins and supply bobbins being moved in a circular path from said first mentioned position about a major axis spaced from said bobbins, and being periodically moved back to said first mentioned position where the supply bobbins are then replenished by substitution therefor of a supply bobbin with yarn thereon; and removing said takeup bobbins when substantially fully wound as they reach said first mentioned position.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said interconnecting of said yarn ends is elfected by sewing said yarn ends together in side-by-side relation.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein said takeup bobbins and supply bobbins are transported about said major axis by application of a single common drive force and said takeup bobbins are also rotated about their own axes through application of said single common drive force except when in said first mentioned position.

13. A yarn winding arrangement comprising support means movable about a major axis, a plurality of winding positions disposed in spaced-apart relation on said support means, each of said winding positions comprising a takeup spindle and a supply spindle each rotatable about an individual axis on said support means, drive means for rotating said takeup spindles and said support 1:. means, and means for disconnecting the drive to each succeeding takeup spindle as each said succeeding spindle is transported by the support means to a bobbin changing station, slack-takeup means for slack-takeup driving one of the spindles of each succeeding one of said winding positions.

14. A yarn winding arrangement comprising support means movable in a closed path about a major axis, a plurality of winding positions disposed in spaced-apart relation on said support means, each of said winding positions comprising a takeup spindle and a supply spindle each rotatable about an individual axis on said support means, the axes of each associated pair of supply and takeup spindles being side-by-side, the spindles of each winding position having their respective lengthwise bobbin-seated position in side-by-side substantially colinear point-to-point lengthwise registry relation to one another for direct transfer of each winding of yarn on the supply spindle bobbin to the takeup spindle bobbin without an intermediate yarn traverse device, drive means for rotating said takeup spindles about their individual axes, and means for rotating said support means about said major axis, said drive means for rotating said takeup spindles being adapted to be disconnected from each succeeding takeup spindle as it moves into a selected loading station position, and a sewing machine disposed adjacent said loading station for joining the ends of yarn on a takeup and supply bobbin disposed on the corresponding spindles disposed at said loading station and during the disconnection of drive to the instant respective takeup spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,668 Hudson et al Dec. 27, 1904 1,002,435 Oswald Sept. 5, 1911 2,697,560 Klein .d Dec. 21, 1954 2,903,196 Fowler Sept. 8, 1959 2,920,840 Cooper Jan. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 677,280 France Dec. 9, 1929 354,042 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1931 455,756 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1936 882,662 Germany July 8, 1953 1,180,505 France Dec. 29, 1958 

